Surgical staple cartridge

ABSTRACT

A staple cartridge is adapted to enhance cell migration towards a wound site when staples are placed in tissue. In order to enhance cell migration, the staple cartridge is adapted to create an electrical potential within the tissue in the area of a wound or cut line. In embodiments, the electrical potential is created within the tissue by using staples in spaced rows formed of dissimilar metals having different anodic indexes to create a voltage gradient in the tissue to enhance cell migration toward the cut line.

FIELD

This disclosure is directed a staple cartridge including spaced rows of staples, and more particularly, to a staple cartridge including spaced rows of staples that are adapted to enhance cell migration toward a wound site.

BACKGROUND

When a surgical stapling and dissecting device is operated to remove tissue from a patient, a knife of the device is advanced to dissect the tissue along a cut line. This creates a wound that is sealed with rows of staples that are ejected from the device and formed through the tissue along the cut line as the tissue is dissected. The staple rows seal the wound by providing pressure to the cut line to maintain hemostasis. However, staple rows fail when the wound does not heal fast enough to prevent the stapled tissue from losing its integrity due to natural degradation.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a staple cartridge including a cartridge body and a plurality of staples. The cartridge body defines a plurality of staple pockets and a central knife slot. The staple pockets are arranged in a plurality of rows on each side of the central knife slot. The plurality of rows includes an inner row and an outer row. Each of the plurality of staple pockets receives one of the plurality of staples. Each of the plurality of staples received in the inner rows of staple pockets is formed of a first metal having a first anodic index and each of the plurality of staples received in the outer rows of staple pockets is formed of a second metal having a second anodic index that is different from the first anodic index.

Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a surgical stapling device including a handle assembly, an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly, and a staple cartridge including a cartridge body and a plurality of staples. The cartridge body defines a plurality of staple pockets and a central knife slot. The staple pockets are arranged in a plurality of rows on each side of the central knife slot. The plurality of rows includes an inner row and an outer row. Each of the plurality of staple pockets receives one of the plurality of staples. Each of the plurality of staples received in the inner rows of staple pockets is formed of a first metal having a first anodic index and each of the plurality of staples received in the outer rows of staple pockets is formed of a second metal having a second anodic index that is different from the first anodic index.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a staple cartridge including a cartridge body and a plurality of staples. The cartridge body defines a plurality of staple pockets and a central knife slot. The staple pockets are positioned on each side of the central knife slot and include first staple pockets positioned along the central knife slot and second staple pockets positioned further from the central knife slot. Each of the plurality of staple pockets receives one of the plurality of staples. Each of the plurality of staples received in the first staple pockets is formed of a first metal having a first anodic index and each of the plurality of staples received in the second staple pockets is formed of a second metal having a second anodic index that is different from the first anodic index.

In embodiments, the first anodic index is less than the second anodic index.

In some embodiments, the first metal is magnesium and the second metal is titanium.

In certain embodiments, the first anodic index is about −1.75V and the second anodic index is about −0.30V.

In embodiments, the plurality of rows on each side of the central knife slot includes a middle row positioned between each of the inner and outer rows.

In some embodiments, the staples in the middle row are formed of the second metal.

In certain embodiments, the staples in the middle row are formed of the first metal.

Other features of the disclosure will be appreciated from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the disclosed staple cartridge are described herein below with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a surgical stapling device including a tool assembly having an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed staple cartridge;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the staple cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1 with staples of the staple cartridge separated from the staple cartridge; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of tissue sections dissected and stapled with the staple cartridge illustrated in FIG. 2 with staple rows formed in the tissue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed staple cartridge will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. In addition, directional terms such as front, rear, upper, lower, top, bottom, distal, proximal, and similar terms are used to assist in understanding the description and are not intended to limit the disclosure.

The disclosed staple cartridge is adapted to enhance cell migration towards a wound site when staples are formed in tissue. In order to enhance cell migration, the rows of staples of the staple cartridge are adapted to create an electrical potential within the tissue in the area of a cut line in tissue. In embodiments, the electrical potential is created within the tissue by applying spaced rows of staples into tissue, wherein the staples in the spaced rows are formed of dissimilar metals having different anodic indexes to create a voltage gradient in the tissue and enhance cell migration toward the cut line.

FIG. 1 illustrates a surgical stapling device shown generally as stapling device 10 that includes a handle assembly 12, an elongate body or adapter 14, and a tool assembly 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle assembly 12 is powered and includes a stationary handgrip 18 and actuation buttons 20. The actuation buttons 20 are operable to actuate various functions of the tool assembly 16 via the adapter 14 including approximation, stapling, and dissection. In embodiments, the handle assembly 16 supports batteries (not shown) that provide energy to the handle assembly 12 to operate the stapling device 10. Although the stapling device 10 is illustrated as a powered stapling device, it is envisioned that the advantages of this disclosure are suitable for use with manually powered surgical stapling devices as well as robotically controlled stapling devices.

The tool assembly 16 of the stapling device 10 includes a cartridge assembly 30 and an anvil 32. As is known in the art, the cartridge assembly 30 and the anvil 32 are coupled together such that the tool assembly 16 can pivot between an open position and a clamped position. The cartridge assembly 30 includes an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed staple cartridge shown generally as staple cartridge 40.

FIG. 2 illustrates the staple cartridge 40 which includes a cartridge body 42 and a plurality of staples 44. The cartridge body 42 defines a plurality of staple pockets 46 and a central knife slot 48 that extends along a midline of the cartridge body 42. As known in the art, the central knife slot 48 facilitates translation of a knife bar (not shown) through the tool assembly 16 to eject staples supported within a staple cartridge and cut tissue clamped between the cartridge assembly 30 and anvil 32. U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361 discloses a known manually powered stapling device including a knife bar that is movable through the tool assembly to eject staples from a staple cartridge and to cut tissue clamped between an anvil and a cartridge assembly of the stapling device. Although the cartridge body 42 is illustrated as being linear, it is envisioned that the cartridge body 42 may have a non-linear configuration or curved along its longitudinal axis.

In embodiments, the staple pockets 46 are arranged in rows 50, 52, and 54 that are positioned on each side of the central knife slot 48 in the staple pockets 46 of the cartridge body 42. Each of the staple pockets 46 supports a staple 44 such that the staples 44 are aligned in rows 50 a, 52 a, and 54 a on each side of the central knife slot 48 within the cartridge body 42 of the staple cartridge 40. It is noted that the rows need not be linear but rather may be curved along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body 42. The inner rows 50 a of staples 44 are positioned closest to and on opposite sides of the central knife slot 48. The middle and outer rows 52 a and 54 a of the staples 44 are positioned outwardly of the central knife slot 48 and of the inner rows 50 a of staples 44 on opposite sides of the central knife slot 48. Although the staple cartridge 40 is illustrated to include three rows of staples 44 on each side of the central knife slot 48, it is envisioned that the staple cartridge 40 may include only two rows of staples 44 or four or more rows of staples 44 on each side of the knife slot 48.

In embodiments, at least two of the rows of staples are formed of dissimilar metals that have different anodic indexes. In one embodiment, the inner rows 50 a of staples 44 are formed of a first metal having a first anodic index and the outer two rows 52 a and 54 a of staples 44 are formed of a second dissimilar metal having a second anodic index. It is also envisioned that the inner and middle rows 50, 52 of staples 44 can be formed of the same metal having a first anodic index and that the outer row 54 of staples 44 can be formed of a dissimilar metal having a second anodic index different than the first anodic index. In one embodiment, the first metal is magnesium which has an anodic index of −1.75V and the second dissimilar metal is titanium which has an anodic index of −0.30V. The dissimilar metals when placed in an electrolyte solution (such as a cellular matrix of tissue, e.g., gastrointestinal tissue) form a galvanic or voltaic cell which uses galvanic potential to drive a voltage within the electrolyte solution, e.g., cellular matrix of tissue.

FIG. 3 illustrates dissected tissue sections “T1” and “T2” including staples 44 formed in three rows 50, 52, and 54 along a cut line “CL” in each tissue section “T1” and “T2”. In this embodiment, the staples 44 in the inner rows 50 of staples are formed from magnesium and have a first anodic index of −1.75V and the outer two rows 52 a and 54 a of staples 44 are formed of titanium and have a second anodic index of −0.30V. Placing staples 44 formed of one material in the outer row 54 of staples 44 and staples 44 formed of a dissimilar metal in the inner row 50 of staples 44 assists in cell migration towards the cut line “CL”. In this embodiment, the staples 44 in the inner row form a cathode and the staples 44 in the outer row 52 or 54 form an anode such that such that a voltage gradient is formed between the anode and the cathode to assist in cell migration toward the cut line “CL”. It is envisioned that in some applications, the staples 44 having the lower anodic index may form the outer row or rows 52, 54 of staples 44 and the material having the higher anodic index may form the inner row of staples 44.

It is envisioned that the staple pockets 46 in the cartridge body 44 need not be arranged in rows as illustrated above but rather may be arranged in a variety of different patterns in the cartridge body. In such a cartridge body, the staples nearer to the cut line CL may be formed of a first metal having a first anodic index and the staples spaced further from the cut line “CL” may be formed from a second dissimilar metal having a second anodic index that is different from the first anodic index.

Although it is described in detail herein that all of the staples in each of the respective rows are formed of the same material, it is envisioned that only some of the staples in the rows of staples need be formed of a material having a first or second anodic index. For example, every other staple or every third staple 44 in the inner row 50 of staples may be formed from a material, e.g., magnesium, having a first anodic index, and every other or every third staple 44 in one or both of the outer two rows 52 a and 54 a of staples 44 may be formed of a material, e.g., titanium, having a second anodic index. Other patterns of materials having different anodic indexes are also envisioned to generate local voltages in tissue to drive healing of tissue. Although only magnesium and titanium have been specifically identified herein as materials suitable for use, it is also envisioned that a variety of materials could be used to form some or all of the staples including, e.g., zinc and copper.

It is also envisioned that some or all of the staples in the rows of staples can be coupled together by a wire 60 (shown in phantom in FIG. 2) or other conductive material such that the row or portion of the row of staples forms a single conductor. This will prevent local voltages from directing cells away from areas of tissue that have no metal. It is also envisioned that the staples may be used in conjunction with a doped material such as a buttress material to increase healing efficiency as well as prevent local voltages from directing cells away from the areas of tissue with no metal.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. It is envisioned that the elements and features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the elements and features of another without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the disclosure based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A staple cartridge comprising: a cartridge body defining a plurality of staple pockets and a central knife slot, the staple pockets arranged in a plurality of rows on each side of the central knife slot, the plurality of rows including an inner row and an outer row; and a plurality of staples, each of the plurality of staple pockets receiving one of the plurality of staples, wherein at least some of the plurality of staples received in the inner rows of the staple pockets are formed of a first metal having a first anodic index and at least some of the plurality of staples received in the outer rows of staple pockets are formed of a second metal having a second anodic index that is different from the first anodic index, wherein the first and second anodic indexes are selected to create a voltaic cell to drive a voltage within tissue to which the plurality of staples are applied.
 2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first anodic index is less than the second anodic index.
 3. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first metal is magnesium and the second metal is titanium.
 4. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first anodic index is −1.75V and the second anodic index is −0.30V.
 5. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rows on each side of the central knife slot includes a middle row positioned between each of the inner and outer rows.
 6. The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein at least some of the staples in the middle row are formed of the second metal.
 7. The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein at least some of the staples in the middle row are formed of the first metal.
 8. A surgical stapling device comprising: a handle assembly; an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly; and a staple cartridge including a cartridge body and a plurality of staples, the cartridge body defining a plurality of staple pockets and a central knife slot, the staple pockets arranged in a plurality of rows on each side of the central knife slot, the plurality of rows including an inner row and an outer row, each of the plurality of staple pockets receiving one of the plurality of staples, wherein at least some of the staples received in the inner rows of the staple pockets are formed of a first metal having a first anodic index and at least some of staples received in the outer rows of staple pockets are formed of a second metal having a second anodic index that is different from the first anodic index, wherein the first and second anodic indexes are selected to create a voltaic cell to drive a voltage within tissue to which the plurality of staples are applied.
 9. The stapling device of claim 8, wherein the first anodic index is less than the second anodic index.
 10. The stapling device of claim 9, wherein the first metal is magnesium and the second metal is titanium.
 11. The stapling device of claim 9, wherein the first anodic index is −1.75V and the second anodic index is −0.30V.
 12. The stapling device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of rows on each side of the central knife slot includes a middle row positioned between each of the inner and outer rows.
 13. The stapling device of claim 12, wherein staples in the middle row are formed of the second metal.
 14. The stapling device of claim 12, wherein the staples in the middle row are formed of the first metal.
 15. A staple cartridge comprising: a cartridge body defining a plurality of staple pockets and a central knife slot, the staple pockets positioned on each side of the central knife slot and including first staple pockets positioned along the central knife slot and second staple pockets positioned further from the central knife slot; and a plurality of staples, each of the plurality of staple pockets receiving one of the plurality of staples, wherein each of the plurality of staples received in the first staple pockets is formed of a first metal having a first anodic index and each of the plurality of staples received in the second staple pockets is formed of a second metal having a second anodic index that is different from the first anodic index, wherein the first and second anodic indexes are selected to create a voltaic cell to drive a voltage within tissue to which the plurality of staples are applied.
 16. The staple cartridge of claim 15, wherein the first anodic index is less than the second anodic index.
 17. The staple cartridge of claim 15, wherein the first metal is magnesium and the second metal is titanium.
 18. The staple cartridge of claim 15, wherein the first anodic index is −1.75V and the second anodic index is −0.30V. 